by the candidates for their big debate. and republican chris christie made a bold prediction on abc's this week. >> every time mitt romney has been confronted in this campaign with one of these moments heap has come through in the debate and performed extraordinarily well. i have absolute confidence when we get to thursday morning, george, you are going to be shaking your race, it's a brand new race. >> reporter: christie is way off the romney campaign script. they're trying to lowe er eer expectations. >> president obama is a very gifted speaker. the man has been on the national stage many years. this is milt's first time on this stage. >> reporter: paul ryan, vice presidential nominee preparing for his own debate avoided giving details of the romney tax plan even when he was pressed. >> you haven't given me the math. >> well, i don't have the, it would take me too long to go through all the math. >> reporter: the president is in nevada tonight for what insiders call three days of debate camp at a resort outside of las vegas. they too are trying to lower expectations and believe accounts that
